Learning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A learning apparatus for learning notes includes a planar, one-part or multi-part board, made of wood, cardboard, plastic, or a similar, nearly form-rigid material with a working surface, exhibiting non-removable and well-recognizable staff indicia means. The work surface is inscribable or imprintable and covered with an adhering felt layer or magnetic foil or with a foil furnished with comparable adhering means, wherein light form-parts, which are easily removable by hand, are placeable on the foil. The form-parts are shaped like all musical notation indicia and musical clef indicia used for writing down notes and are furnished at their backs with hook-and-loop adhering means or magnetic adhering means or the like adhering means. The musical notation indicia are made of metal, plastic, wood, caoutchouc or a similar, nearly form-rigid or slightly plastically deformable material provided with a color coating on their surface or are made of materials having different colors.

The invention relates to a learning apparatus for the learning of noteswith a planar two-part or multi-part foldable board from a substantiallyrigid material with a work surface that can be written or printed on andthat is covered with an adhesive felt layer or with a magnetic foil orwith a layer furnished with comparable adhering means, where the worksurface exhibits easily recognizable, non-removable staff indiciacomprising staff lines, wherein the learning apparatus exhibitslight-weight shaped forms, furnished on their backs with hook-and-loopor magnetic or the like adhering means, in the shape of all musicalnotation indicia and musical clef indicia used for writing down notes,which shaped forms are attachable and easily placed and removed again byhand on the foil of the work surface, wherein the notation indicia aremade of a substantially rigid or readily plastically deformablecaoutchouc rubber and are covered with a colored coating at theirsurface or are made of materials of different colors.

Such a learning apparatus is known from the U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,971,which is made of a one-part or a multi-part board, and in the lattercase of a foldable board. Staff indicia means comprised of staff linesin an enlarged scale are applied in a removable manner onto the worksurface of the apparatus by way of adhering agents, where againform-parts in the shape of sign and symbols of the musical notationindicia and other musical clef indicia can be removably placed also withadhering means, preferably loop-and-hook connections, and can becomposed anew again and again. Moreover, additional auxiliary means canbe applied, such as several overlayed transparent foils, where signs andsymbols of the notation indicia are applied individually or in groups onthe foils. Such a set of foils can be attached in the upper region ofthe board and the foils can then be placed individually or as aplurality from a folded-over position over to the work surface, suchthat the signs disposed thereon and in line with the staff indiciameaningfully complement each other and/or with the attachableform-parts. This known apparatus is however limited in its usability. Inparticular, the individual foils of the set of foils, which are actuallyintended to serve as a kind of guide-line by the teacher to thoselearning, can easily side and have to be folded or be completely removedas a set in case the board is to be folded together and to betransported, for example, in a schoolbag or to another location.

Thus, the purpose of the invention relates to a per se known learningapparatus to furnish this learning apparatus with additional technicalelements thereby completing it in order to create a broader and moreuniversal palette of utilization possibilities. In particular, at leastone part of the musical notation indicia and musical clef indicia is tobe maintained unchanged in its position during the transport of thelearning apparatus in a folded state.

This is achieved according to the invention by having the learningapparatus exhibit printing blocks or stamps reproducing additionalmusical notation indicia and musical clef indicia with in each case asupport handle and with a marking plate, connected to this handle,capable of absorbing the coloring agent, exhibiting marking lines, andmade of rubber and, in addition, a notation table having an essentiallyrectangular shape and made of a rigid or plastically deformable materialor also of a transparent material, where the notation indicia areindicated in their position in the staff indicia with their namedesignation and the associated clef; in addition, the learningapparatus, exhibits cover plates for the partial covering of the worksurface, where the cover plates exhibit at least one cut-out which isjust large enough to free individual musical notes or several musicalnotes for viewing. The learning apparatus exhibits in the folded stateof the board a format which can be placed into a schoolbag or carryingcase.

The apparatus is suitable to practice playfully the reading of notes andthe learning of notes in particular for children from about the age of 4years on. The learning child can first visually "experience" always anewand remember given or also self-composed notes, intervals, tonesequences and motives, and finally, building on a base motif given bythe teacher, vary and change. With the aid of the printing blocks orstamps, musical notation indicia or musical clef indicia can be pressedonto the work surface with a coloring agent, which indeed adheres butcan be wiped off again, wherein the possibility exists, to provide forexample different colors for different note values and associated restsymbols and to support in this manner the learning process. The symbolsprinted as guidelines with the printing blocks or stamps cannot beerased or changed by accident and cannot be displaced even during thetransport of the board in a bag or case, and thus they are available forfurther situations until they are intentionally erased or changed.

The recited notation tables exhibit preferably an edge reinforcement ontwo sides or all sides and are furnished with a reciprocally coactingattachment means for the production of force-matching attachmentconnection on the work surface. The notation tables are particularlysuited to allow the learning person to find easily the names of thenotes. The positions in the staff indicia means, where the notationindicia have to be attached for a specific tone sequence, are easilyrecognizable and readable for all (current) instruments and, if it isdesired, also in foreign languages. In this connection the notationtables can also be made of two parts if they are attached on both sidesat the board; they can be connected like a hinge or they can be slidableon top of each other or into each other like a telescope by means ofguide elements.

The thin-walled form-parts, exhibiting an adhering agent on its backaide, can be furnished with an easily removable protective foil in orderto avoid damage.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, in addition to thenotation tables, also notation foils, furnished with staff indicia andhaving a smaller format than the board and comprised of a transparent,nearly rigid or easily plastically deformable material, can be placedonto the board with the fixed staff indicia in a shifted manner indifferent height levels and width levels relative to the latter. Thus,it is possible to shift rhythms, chords, intervals or other tone andmelody sequences given on the notation foils in the staff indicia means,wherein also the prefixed can be placed differently and changed again.In this way, transposing can also be exercised. The staff indicia meanson the foils and on the work surface are kept at the same scale for thispurpose.

The staff indicia means, furnished on the board on one side or two sidesand contrasting in color relative to the surface and the colors of theform-parts, are advantageously furnished with enlarged spaces betweenthe staff lines from 12 to 20 mm relative to the standard dimensions.This makes the handling of the apparatus easier, particularly forsmaller children.

In addition, the staff means, disposed on the work surface, can becomplemented by superposing a foil with lines running perpendicular tothe existing staff lines, such that, for example, already present tonesequences and rhythms can be varied and completed.

Advantageously, the form-parts and/or the musical notation indicia andmusical clef indicia reproducing rubber stamps are placed in anapparatus box with compartments for storing and for removal. Theform-parts and/or the printing blocks or, respectively, rubber stampscan be placed in an orderly manner according to color and/or value inthe individual compartments such that they can be quickly found againfor further use.

In comparison to the already known aids for learning, the apparatusaccording to the invention is broadly developable and applicable and itcan be easily carried despite its large format. It can therefore also beeasily employed in external instruction rooms, for example inkindergartens or similar institutions, during music instructions and forpracticing at home.

Further features and particularities of the invention are described inthe following and explained in more detail by way of the embodimentsshown in the drawing:

There is shown in:

FIG. 1 the learning apparatus in the shape of a two-part, unfolded boardwith two staff indicia means applied to the work surface,

FIG. 2 the learning apparatus according to FIG. 1 with various musicalsymbols and musical notes disposed in the staff indicia means,

FIG. 2a is an exemplified illustration of a reproduction of severalmusical notations,

FIG. 2b is the learning apparatus according to FIG. 1, illustrating theapplication of a covering plate to allow focus on two musical notations,

FIG. 3 examples of musical notation tables in several differentlyselected forms and in fact

FIG. 3a for piano in German

FIG. 3b for piano in English

FIG. 3c for a melody instrument in German

FIG. 3d for viola in German

FIG. 3e for a melody instrument in Italian

FIG. 3f for a bass instrument in German,

FIG. 4 a nontransparent or transparent inscribable foil with two staffindicia means,

FIG. 5 a transparent foil with the musical symbols of a melody, for theplacing onto the foil according to FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 a nontransparent or transparent inscribable foil with two staffindicia means,

FIG. 7 transparent foils with A, B, C, D different intervals, E, F, G,H--different chords, I, K--different rhythms,

FIG. 8 transparent foils with

8A and 8B different rhythms,

8C to 8F different sharp key signatures,

8G to 8J different flat key signatures,

FIG. 9 illustration of an apparatus box with individual compartments,

FIG. 10 rubber stamp with handle,

FIG. 11 a top perspective representation of an indicia printing stampwith handle and a form-part configured in a shape of a musical notation;and

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective representation of the indicia printingstamp of FIG. 11

The two-part foldable board 1 of the learning apparatus is illustratedin FIG. 1, where the board 1 is made of a material having a substantialbending strength or at least not readily deformable, such as wood,cardboard, plastic, or the like. Two staff indicia means 3 with theirstaff lines 4 are applied fixedly and easily recognizable on the worksurface 2 of the board 1. It is to be noted that these lines 4 show agood contrast relative to the work surface 2. Preferably, the contrastcolors are the colors black or green for the work surface 2 and thecolors white or yellow for the staff lines 4; however, also other colorcontrasts can be useful.

The work surface 2 of the board 1 is furnished with an adhering,magnetic foil or, respectively, with a felt covering or hook-and-loopcovering. The adhering felt layer or magnetic foil or felt covering orhook-and-loop covering or a foil furnished with comparable adheringmeans covering the working surface is designated as adhering layer.According to FIG. 2, the form-parts, exhibiting on their back sideadhering materials cooperating and coacting with the covering of thework surface 2, can represent notations as well as all remaining musicalsymbols, and the form-parts FK can in-this way be applied sufficientlyadhering and also again removable on the work surface 2 of the board 1.Suitably, the back side of the form-part FK may include a removableprotective foil.

The form-parts can be low weight form-parts, furnished at their backwith hook-and-loop adhering means or magnetic adhering means or the likeadhering means, which are designated in the present invention asadhering means.

An exemplified selection of musical symbols illustrated in FIG. 2a canbe made of metal, plastic, wood, caoutchouc rubber or another material,which is dimensionally stable but which can also be plasticallydeformable to some extent. In this case, the musical symbols, formed asform-parts, can be formed both as complete musical notes as well asindividual, compoundable elements of notes; e.g. note heads, note stems,note flags as well as note bars for connecting of note stems, andothers. In order to allow visual recognition of one or more musicalnotations, a covering plate 5 is provided by which the work surface canbe, at least partially, masked and which is formed with at least onecutout of a size that is large enough to expose the musical notation ornotations, as shown in FIG. 2b.

The staff indicia means 3 and the therewith associated musical symbolsare advantageously kept in a larger scale than the scale usually presenton music paper. The scale is selected such that a short melody can beplaced completely on the staff indicia means 3 present on the board 1. Adistance of from about 12 mm to 20 mm between the staff lines4--depending on the size of the board 1--has proven to be advantageous.

The musical notation indicia are comprised of a form-rigid or easilyplastically deformable caoutchouc rubber called in the context of thisapplication indicia caoutchouc rubber and are color-coated on theirsurface or made of materials of different colors designated in thecontext of this application as colored notation indicia. Suitably, inorder to display a good contrast relative to the work surface 2 and thestaff lines 4, the form-parts FK apply musical notations of a color thatis different from the colors of the work surface 2 and the staff lines4.

As can be recognized by way of example from FIG. 3, the notation tables3a to 3f can be prepared for the different instruments and for the useof persons speaking different languages. These notation tables can bemade of a rigid or plastically deformable material or also of atransparent work material. As further indicated in FIG. 3, the notationtables 3a-f may be reinforced along the edges on opposite sides orall-round for improved handling.

In other words, the notation tables are made of a rigid or plasticallydeformable material or also or transparent material designated in thecontext of the present invention as notation table material.

In addition, they can also be furnished in different colors. They areparticularly suited to find easily the names of the notes. For thispurpose, the staff lines or, respectively, the staff indicia means 3 arekept in the same scale as the staff indicia means on the work surface 2;therefore, the transparent notation tables can be placed onto the worksurface and can be shifted within the staff indicia means. It is alsopossible to apply the notation tables on one side or on two sides on theboard 1 or to attach the notation tables by means of attachment means,for example hooks as indicated in FIGS. 3a-f by reference numeral 6 andcomplementary eyes (not shown), or also to slide the notation tableslaterally in guides.

FIGS. 4 and 6 show additional nontransparent or transparent inscribablefoils of different size and exhibiting two staffs indicia. FIG. 5 is atransparent foil as shown in FIG. 4, displaying musical notations of anexemplified melody.

A further enrichment of the apparatus is furnished by the nontransparentor in particular also transparent foils, as can be recognized from FIGS.7 and 8. The notation foils are made of a transparent, nearly rigid orplastically easily deformable material designated in the context of thisinvention as foil material. These transparent foils can, for example,allow a recognition of various intervals A, B, C, D or various chords E,F, G, H or also various rhythms I or K. These notation foils are shownby way of example in FIGS. 7 and 8, with FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7Dillustrating foils exhibiting different intervals, FIGS. 7E, 7F, 7G, 7Hillustrating foils exhibiting different chords, and FIGS. 7I, 7K, 8.1and 8.2 exhibiting different rhythms, FIGS. 8.3 to 8.6 exhibitingdifferent sharp key signatures, and FIGS. 8.7 to 8.10 exhibitingdifferent flat key signatures. The musical notation foils are generallyof smaller size than the board 1 and can be selectively positioned andshifted on the work surface 2 in a desired manner.

The application possibilities of these foils are thereby not exhaustedbut in addition they can also be illustrated in an easily recognizable,memorable way--see FIG. 8--different rhythms 8.1 and 8.2 and thedifferent key signatures, such as for example the sharp key signatures8.3-8.6 or the different flat key signatures 8.7 to 8.10. In addition,the staff indicia means 3 of the transparent foils are in congruencewith the staff indicia means on the work surface 2, such that uponplacing of the foils these can be shifted in their pitch.

Therefore, these notation tables and foils can serve for the purpose offacilitating the learning of and the dealing with melodies, intervals,chords, rhythms, key signatures, transposing, and clefs.

The apparatus box B of the learning apparatus is shown in FIG. 9 withindividual compartment F for the orderly receiving and removing of theform-parts FK These can be arranged according to the kind of musicalsymbols they embody and/or also according to their color configuration,in order to assure a quick and problem-free availability. FIG. 10illustrates the music symbols in the shape of rubber stamps GS with ahandle for easier handling. The printing blocks or stamps are designatedin the context of the present invention as printing member. FIGS. 11 and12 show a printing member for reproducing notation indicia, with theprinting member having a marking plate 9 which includes a form-part FKand is connected to a handle GS. The marking plate 9 exhibits markinglines 10 and may receive a coloring agent for effecting a color contrastto the work surface 2 of the board 1 and the staff lines 4. Therespective musical symbol can be pressed onto the board 1 or onto a foilplaced on the board.

I claim:
 1. A learning apparatus, comprising:a planar multi-partfoldable board having a work surface formed with a first adhering meansand non-removable staff indicia thereon, with the staff indiciaincluding staff lines; at least one musical notation indicia printingstamp having a form-part configured in a shape of a musical notation andincluding second adhering means for coaction with the first adheringmeans to removably attach the form-part to the work surface; and atleast one notation table displaying musical notations and includingmeans for attaching the notation table to the board.
 2. The learningapparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a covering plate for atleast partially masking the work surface, said covering plate beingformed with at least one cutout for visual recognition of one musicalnotation.
 3. The learning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notationtable has reinforced edges.
 4. The learning apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe form-part has a back side exhibiting the second adhering means. 5.The learning apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a notationfoil defined by a size smaller than a size of the board, said notationfoil being made of transparent, substantially rigid or plasticallydeformable material and being adapted for selective detachablesecurement to the work surface.
 6. The learning apparatus of claim 1wherein the work surface and the staff lines display a color whichcontrasts a color of the musical notations on the form-part.
 7. Thelearning apparatus of claim 1 wherein staff lines on the board arespaced from one another at a greater distance than a distance ofstandard staff lines.
 8. The learning apparatus of claim 7 wherein thestaff lines on the board have a distance from each other ranging between12 mm to 20 mm.
 9. The learning apparatus of claim 1, and furthercomprising a box subdivided in a plurality of compartments for storing aplurality of such form parts.
 10. The learning apparatus of claim 1wherein the stamp is made of rubber.
 11. The learning apparatus of claim1 wherein the printing stamp includes a handle and a marking plate madeof rubber and connected to the handle for reproducing musical notationindicia, said marking plate receiving a coloring agent and exhibitingmarking lines.